The Saturday briefing: Knowledge is Power

IS THERE anything you are desperately yearning to know? Are there any pressing factual disputes you would like us to help resolve? This is the page where we shall do our best to answer any questions you throw at us, whatever the subject.

Q - Your story on the history of the Rank Organisation (“The rise and fall of Britain’s Hollywood”, April 22) mentioned the Gong Man several times. Who was he? I remember Norman Wisdom doing it once as a joke introduction to one of his films but I seem to remember that the real guy was a boxer, perhaps Georges Carpentier. Is that right?

Jeff Waller, Alicante, Spain

A - There were four gong bashers: Carl Dane, a circus strongman, did the job from 1932 to 1948; Bombardier Billy Wells, who was a professional boxer, came next; then film extra Phil Nieman and finally Ken Richmond, who took bronze for Britain in the Olympic wrestling in 1952.

Sadly the whole thing was faked. The “gong” was a plaster replica and the sound came from a percussionist banging a big cymbal.

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Q - I am yearning to learn why, when our British Armed Forces were awarded the Coronation Medal 1953, the Jubilee Medal 1977, the Golden Jubilee Medal 2007 and Diamond Jubilee Medal 2002, the MoD will not supply the Sapphire Jubilee Medal. Members of the British forces will have to pay £45 (full size) or £15.50 (miniature) for it if they want one.

My son, still serving with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, is not very pleased.

Graham J Ball, Manchester

A - It’s not the fault of the MoD or Her Majesty. Unlike the other medals you mention, the Sapphire Jubilee Medal medal is a commercial venture commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne and has not needed nor been given the Sovereign’s permission.

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English Dictionary dates the first recorded use of the phrase ‘the thin end of the wedge’ as 1856

Q - Could you tell me how the phrase “the thin end of the wedge” became a popular saying?

Jacqui Bloxham, Wolverhampton

A - The Oxford English Dictionary dates the first recorded use of the phrase as 1856 but its origins are older. Think of a wedge as an instrument for splitting wood or stone.

The sharp (or thin) end is driven into a crack, then hammered further in until the increasing thickness of the wedge causes a complete split.

Since the mid-19th century the phrase has been used to describe an action or procedure of small apparent importance that is likely to lead to more serious developments.

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The Korean War Memorial

Q - Can you settle an argument for us? I believe there was a spell in the 1950s when national service was reduced from two years to 18 months for some time. My pal disputes this. And is it true that one of the reasons national service was discontinued was the large number of deserters?

Don Wright, Blackpool, Lancashire

A - You’re quite right though the reduction from two years to 18 months began in 1949.

Healthy males from 17-21 were expected to serve for that term, then remain on the reserves list for another four years during which they could be recalled for 20 days on no more than three occasions.

In October 1950, because of the Korean War, the two-year period was reinstated and the reserve period decreased by six months.

In 1950 the number of absentees who had resisted conscription was 19,477 but this was probably no more than a minor consideration in ending it in 1960.

By that time the military needed well-trained professional men for rapid deployment forces rather than the large numbers of inexperienced conscripts.